Sri Lankan President Anura 🍌Kumara Dissanayake has begun his three-day visit to India. The visit to New Delhi marks the Marxist l🉐eader's first foreign trip since winning the popular vote in the Sri Lankan presidential elections.
As he began his visit, Dissanayake, also known as AKD back 𓄧home met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.
Meetings with Modi, EAMꦗ Jaishankar and more on the agenda, Anura Kumara Dissan💧ayake's visit to India is expected to turn over a new leaf for Indo-Sri Lankan ties.
Sri Lankan President In India | What's On Agenda
The Sri Lanka♓n president's meetings with PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar and other officials are expected to focus on reinforcing economic ties and deeper cooperation on issues regarding regional security and stability.
During his m🥂eeting with Prime Minister Modi, India and Sri Lanka expanded their partnership to ramp up defence, energy and trade ties.
"We both agree that our security interests are interconnected. We have decided to soon finalise the defence c⛄ooperation agreement. There has also been an agreement for cooperation on hydrography," said PM Modi.
The protection of the minority Tamil community will also be a key part of AKD's visit t🐠o Delhi. Dissanayake's party - the Janatha Vimukhti Peramuna - is known for its opposition to the 1987 agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the protection of the Tamil community.
What Is The State Of Ties Between India and Sri Lanka?
The Sri Lankan president's visit comes amid concerns over China's attempts to increase its military presence in the Indian Ocean. In 2022, tensions between India and Sri Lanka escalated after the docking of a Chinese mi⛄ssile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang' at Hambantota port.
However, in 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever sovereign default since independence in 1948, triggering financial 🦄chaos and civil unrest. The civil unrest in 2022 resulted in the ouster of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Aiding the country's recovery from a deep economic crisis, India sent $4 billion in assistance. India's emergency assistance for Sri Lanka and the island nation's importance in the neighbourhood first policy are likely🃏 reasons why Dissanayake chose India as the destination for his first foreign trip since taking office.
With this visit, Dissanayake will seek to strike the right 🌊balance of partnerships between India, China and other key countries (the US and Russia) to 🐻ensure the long-term interests of Sri Lanka.
